New Director of Bands Announced

Dr. Robert Tucker, Dean of the College of Fine Arts and President Eric Bruntmyer are proud to announce the hiring of a new Director of Bands for Hardin-Simmons University.

Mr. Bill Harden, an HSU alumnus, has accepted the position of Director of Bands.  “Bill comes to us with many years of successful experience as a Texas band director,” says Dr. Robert Tucker. “He is also an outstanding musician and a Hardin-Simmons alum.  We are excited for his leadership with the Cowboy Band and the Concert Band.”

Mr. Harden has a great deal of experience as a band director, he has been the Band Director at Odessa HS since 1998.  He has also been a bassoonist with the Midland Odessa Symphony Orchestra since 1988. He received his bachelor’s from HSU in 1986, and a master’s of music from the University of Cincinnati in 1988.

“I am very excited to be coming back to where I learned to be a music educator,” says Mr. Harden. “My experiences at HSU, especially with the Cowboy Band, have helped to make me the person I am today. I’m excited to meet the young men and women who make up the World Famous Cowboy Band of today!”

The administration is committed to the legacy and the Cowboy Band, explains President Bruntmyer. “Recently I was honored to play the maracas and cymbals with the World Famous Cowboy Band.  They have so much fun playing great music and sharing their personalities during their performances.  Because of this, I want every band kid to come to Hardin-Simmons to experience the Cowboy Band! But, these experiences are only made possible by great leadership. During the past 95 years we have been blessed with so many wonderful directors and I look forward to welcoming Billy Harden back to campus this fall as he leads the band.”

The HSU Cowboy Band Foundation is also excited to welcome Mr. Harden, “The Cowboy Band Foundation looks forward to a continued positive relationship with Hardin-Simmons and the HSU School of Music,” says Mr. Jay Lester, 2nd Vice Chair of the HSU Cowboy Band Foundation. “We are excited to welcome Bill Harden, a Cowboy Band graduate from 1986. He has already started planning for the future by setting some goals for the band, including travel, recruitment and retention of members, and a positive relationship with the band foundation. The future looks bright for the Cowboy Band!”

Mr. Harden is currently out of the country, but will begin his work at HSU in early August.